How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella) Flowers

Love-in-a-mist flowers also go by their botanical name, Nigella. They put on beautiful, dancing flowers framed by delicate fennel-like foliage that resembles verdant mist. As they grow, their foliage tangles beneath their flowers and bracts. 

You can grow these mystical flowers in flower beds, cut gardens, or pathways. They look beautiful when paired with other delicate flowers. Or, use them as backdrops to roses and other brightly colored centerpieces. 

These delicate flowers are members of the buttercup family of plants, or Ranunculaceae. They make a graceful addition to any flower garden. You can also grow them as a small to medium ground cover surrounding your garden beds. 

Because of their numerous flowers, they’ll be some of your garden’s best early-season pollinator attractors. Bees and other insects swarm to their beautiful blooms. Their woven foliage is also a great habitat for beneficial insects such as ladybugs. 

Characteristics

Nigella plants are hardy annuals that grow to about 1 to 2 feet tall. They have bright green, thin leaves that resemble fennel or anise. As their blooms form in late spring to early summer, thin bracts form around them, which resemble thin, green lace. 

The flowers grow to be close to 1.5 inches wide. They form 5 large sepals and tiny petals within their stamens. After pollination, they form vivid black seeds in large pods that resemble balloons. Thin, lacy green bracts form around the pods, adding to their misty appearance. 

Once the pods dry, the dark seeds disperse. They’ll naturally self-sow and form next year’s crop. The following spring, you should see the seedlings emerge in the same section of your garden. 

Native Area

Nigella flowers are native to Southern Europe and North Africa. In their native habitat, they grow along trails, roadsides, fields, and rocky ground. 

You’ll find these small plants in the Mediterranean region, especially in mountain regions and on hillsides. Today, gardeners throughout the world plant them as herbaceous annual flowers. 

Planting

Love-in-a-mist flowers are easy to plant from seed. They germinate quickly in well-drained soil and sunny locations. Plant them in yards, flower beds, patios, or garden borders. They’ll also thrive in coastal gardens. 

If you’re limited on space, try growing them in containers such as these for an elegant porch or patio showpiece. If you have a south-facing window that gets plenty of sun, they’ll even thrive in indoor containers. 

Sow your seeds on the soil surface. Space them 2 to 3 inches apart and gently cover them with a thin layer of soil. Give them a deep watering and keep the soil moist. 

You can also scatter the seeds in your garden bed for a wilder look. Combine them with other hardy annuals for a colorful mixture. You should see your first blooms about 3 months after planting. 

Nigella plants have long taproots that grow quickly after germination. Because of this, it’s best not to transplant them. Once you sow them into the ground, leave them be until the end of their growing season. 

How to Grow

As long as they get enough sun and water, nigellas are incredibly easy to grow. They’ll thrive in almost any climate. 

Once you sow them, they require basic maintenance. If you’re looking for a flower that needs the bare minimum of maintenance, you’ll love growing love-in-a-mist plants. Below are some tips for getting bright and beautiful blooms this year. 

Light

Plant your nigellas in a sunny location with afternoon shade or bright, direct sun. They prefer to have at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. 

The more sunlight your plants have, the more blooms they’ll produce. However, if you live in a gloomy location, you can still get them to bloom. 

Water

Water your nigellas consistently throughout their growing season. Give them enough water so the soil remains moist but not overly soggy. Avoid letting the soil dry out for too long. 

Soil

Love-in-a-mist nigellas thrive in well-drained soil that’s full of nutrients. Amend your soil with organic compost before planting. It helps to have sandy soil with a neutral pH. 

In their native region, they grow in gravely soil as well as sand. You can get them to thrive in rocky regions or areas with loam and clay. As long as the soil drains well, you should have few issues. 

Temperature and Humidity

These hardy annuals can handle brief cold temperatures as well as periods of heat once established. Prolonged cold or heat can damage plants and even kill them. When sowing, wait for the soil temperature to go above 60°F (16°C). 

Your flowers will be happiest in cooler summer temperatures between 65 and 75°F (18-24°C). They thrive in coastal regions with the cooling influence of sea breezes. 

Fertilizing

To get radiant blooms, consider adding a dash of an organic all-purpose fertilizer or flower food like this one during planting. Look for a balanced NPK ratio and follow the instructions on the label when applying. 

Avoid feeding beyond providing initial fertilizer or adding compost annually. Too much can lead to the harmful effects of fertilizer burn. 

Maintenance

Once established, these flowers are very easy to care for. Simply keep up with their watering schedule and make sure they get plenty of light. 

After sowing your seeds, thin out your plants to about one every 6 to 10 inches. This will prevent overcrowding. 

When your flowers start to bloom, you can deadhead them after they bloom. This promotes more blooms later in the season. 

Propagation

The best way to propagate your nigellas is by letting them go to seed. Skip deadheading on a few flowers to let them form seed pods. Let the pods go through their natural cycle and let them naturally dry out during the colder months. They will scatter in their location, or you can collect them for planting the following year.

To harvest the seeds, let the pods become completely dry. Clip the stem at its base and hold the dry pods over a clean bucket or container. Most of the seeds will fall into the container naturally. Gently tap the seed pods to get the rest of the seeds to come out. 

Popular Varieties

Love-in-a-mist flowers come in multiple varieties and cultivars. They have unique colors, sizes, and floral patterns. Below are a few of the top varieties to look out for. 

‘Oxford Blue’

‘Oxford Blue’ varieties grow to over 2 feet high. They have dark, radiant blue flowers that look striking against their bright green foliage. They have dark seed pods that look amazing in jars. 

‘Miss Jekyll Alba’

‘Miss Jekyll’ varieties are some of the most common seeds you’ll find. They have subtle blue flowers and a vigorous growing habit. ‘Miss Jekyll Alba’ displays the same form with a white flower instead of blue.

‘Persian Jewels’

‘Persian Jewels’ is a series of cultivars that come in a diverse array of colors. You’ll find lavender, pink, white, light blue, and rose colored varieties. 

‘Mulberry Rose’

‘Mulberry Rose’ is a dark pink variety with an easy-to-care-for nature. It grows fast and tall with the right growing conditions. 

‘Albion’

‘Albion’ varieties have gorgeous white flowers and beautiful mahogany seed pods. They’re great in cut gardens or used as border crops. 

Common Problems

One of the best things about love-in-a-mist flowers is their carefree nature. They’re incredibly disease and pest-resistant. Deer and other animals tend to ignore them. As long as they’re well spaced out and not overcrowded, they should thrive with few issues. 

Pests and Diseases

These annuals have very few natural predators. Usually, they bloom far before any pests can start attacking them. 

Late-season flowers, however, may come into contact with some common garden pests. Snails, slugs, and aphids are the most common. As always, cultivate a healthy garden ecosystem with diverse plantings that encourage natural predators like ladybugs and beneficial wasps. 

If you see an infestation developing, try spraying streams of water on the plants, which should release the pests. If the infestation is extreme, try applying an organic neem oil solution. This should help rid your plants of the most extreme infestations. Spray these in the early morning before pollinators are out.

Deer, rabbits, and other animals generally avoid these resilient flowers. This makes them a great addition to a deer-repellent garden as border crops. Try encircling your edible garden beds in nigella flowers for extra deer protection. 

Few diseases plague this plant. In heavy soils that don’t drain well, there is a risk for root rot. Always water at the root level to avoid splashing leaves and spreading any fungal diseases.

Frequently Asked Questions